Why NFL's Nickel Defense Is Growing in Popularity to Combat Passing League

In terms of the game itself, the NFL has moved from a local street to an interstate highway.

The running back position is much less important than it once was, and the new NFL is focused on passing the ball out of the spread offense.

The Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl in 2010 with a high-powered spread attack and no true feature running back.

Just last year, the New England Patriots made a Super Bowl with a modified version of the spread that focused on their tight ends.

On the flip side of this new offensive surge, NFL teams need to adjust defensively.

NFL offenses typically now feature three or four receivers on the field at once, as opposed to the old one or two wideout sets.

The importance of a good fullback, running back and even interior offensive linemen has seriously diminished, so it's no surprise that NFL teams are more likely to throw out a third cornerback than a fourth or fifth defensive lineman.

In football, a defense with three cornerbacks on the field is called a "nickel" package, and it's certainly growing in popularity.

Instead of linebackers matching up against slot wide receivers (many of whom have superior agility and speed), football teams opt to go with a nickel package to get an advantage.

Against teams like the Packers, Patriots and other spread-heavy, passing teams (the Saints are certainly up there, too), defenses resolve to allow a five-yard rush instead of a 15-yard pass.

This is a new idea in football. Typically, defenses would prefer to see one big passing play than a consistent run game, but the game has changed.

A big-play passing game is now much easier to sustain than a consistent running game. Defensive linemen are bigger and stronger, giving them the ability to lock down a run game, but a well-read pass play is almost impossible to defend.

Teams recognize the need for a third cornerback and are spending big, too.

In a very talented NFC South, the Buccaneers signed Eric Wright to be a nickel corner and slow down the passing attacks of Drew Brees and the Saints, Matt Ryan and the Falcons as well as Cam Newton and the Panthers.

Tampa Bay gave Wright a $37.5 million contract over five years—consider that, a few years ago, third cornerbacks were merely backups.

The nickel defense opens up many possibilities for defensive coordinators. With a third corner on the field, teams like the New York Giants can go into their NASCAR package (three pass-rushing defensive ends at once).

In fact, New York expended a first-round pick (in 2010) on cornerback Prince Amukamara, and he got significant playing time (when healthy) as the third corner on the roster.

For an example of the nickel's prevalence, look no further than the Cincinnati Bengals. The team had Leon Hall, Terence Newman and Jason Allen under contract but still went ahead and drafted Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick in the first round.

NFL teams need more corners on the field than they used to. If teams want to compete, shutting down opposing passing games is the first step.